Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-02-13
RAILWAY SHOPS BURNED
CAV AMMAN. FLORlDA AND
WESTERNS heavy Loss.

w ESIBi1tN'S HEA \ sIOSS.
"nehtne and Blacksmith shops Totally
Destroyed-rhe Company Loss Esti-
mated at $50, Clearing Away tho
Debris of the Burned Buildings-The
. oriAin of the Fire Unexplained.
The most disastrous FIRE, in point Of
property destroyed, that has occurred in
savannah since the Yamacraw fire, broke
ont few minutes after O'Clock yester-
nav morning. 1t started in the northeast
eorner of the Savannah, Florida aud
western railway blacksmith shop, under
the roof. and had good start before it was
discovered by the wa,chman, The fire
engines had long run, and by the time
Iney reached the company's yards the
Whole roof OF the building was in flames.
Inc shop was a one.story brick struc-
ture, seventy feet wide and ninety feet
iong. Adjoining it, and under the same
roof, was the machine shop, also OF brick,
ana or the same size as the blacksmith
snop. The building was about a hundred
yards south OF the round-hOuse. At the
southeast corner of the machine shop was
Inc machinery department Offices; "a two
story brick building. Close TO 1t is the
machine carpenter shop, and almost adj
OTHER PROPERTY IN DANGER.
There was great danger of the fire
spreading and sweeping away the whole
cluster of buildings. Water was hard TO
get and the fremen worked at dis
advantage. Chief Fernandez had a second
alarm turned in directly after arriving.
One line Of hose that was carried across
sp4saaseks was cut into by shifting en-
gine VI - was being signaled by a colored
n. Trenches then
under the rails and the hose was laid
under the track, which did not interfere
with the movement of the rolling stock.
Ihere did not happen to be any cars in
immediate danger.
THE LOSS OF MACHINERY.
The shops, while they were good, sub
stantal buildings, were not near so val
uaDle as the machinery and tools which
they contained. The roof was covered
with tin. AS the blazing woodwork fell
II set ire to the floor, which was quickly
Burned through, letting the lathes, ham,
Sners and all the machinery down into the
cellar. There were two presses in the
shops which were used for changing the
gauge of toe car trucks. Some of the
Iathes were very expensive, and Supt.
tlemiHg requested the bremen to keep
the water of of the hot machinery as
much as possible.
BURNED TO THE GROUND.
The building could not be
saved, and when daylight
broke the site of the shops was covered
with mass of smoking debris. Fallen
walls, charred climbers and machinery
twisted into fantastic shapes were piled
up III almost Undesirable confusion.
None OF the surrounding buildings were
damaged, luckily.
Inc shops and contents were valued at
$4,000 and were insured for 1874 900 in the
Royal Insurance Company of London,
Eng, represented by Mr.. q. A. Reitze.
How the fire started is a mystery which
zone of the officials pretend to explain.
ABOUT 100 men were employed in the
shops, and many OF them lost valuable
tools. No workmen have been discharged
recently, and no one is suspected of hav-
ang fired the building through revenge.
CLEARING AWAY THE RUINS.
A large force of workmen was set to
clearing away the ruins as soon as they
cooled off sufficiently.
The loss is a serious one to the COM
pany, as it will cause great inconve-
nlence In making repairs. All work that
can will be sent to Charleston and Way
cross. Early in the morning the machine
snop proprietors in the city here kindly
offered to extend the company any aid in
their power until new shops can be erect
ed. The offer was appreciated by the
pfnclals who are in the civ. General
Manager Fl. S. Hsines is in New York.
just little more than two months ago
the company's paint and oil shops were
burned. The framework of the new shops
Is being erected about 400 yards south of
the scene OF yesterday mornings fire.